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(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 1., P. H. RICHARDS. ENVELOPE FOLDING MECHANISM.

No. 323,207. Patented July 28, 1885.

' N. vnzns. Pholn-Likhngnphon Walhingknm D, c.

(No Model.)

E 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. RICHARDS;

ENVELOPE FOLDING MECHANISM.

No. 323,207. Patented July 28, 1885.

T W'Znesses:

N. PETERS. PhnbUiMgr-phur. Wuhingfon. D. C

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet" 3.

F. H. RICHARDS.

ENVELOPE FOLDING MECHANISM.

No. 323,207. Patented July 28, 1885.

T/W'ZWe seS:

N. PETERS. Phonrkilhngrnpher. Wahingmn, I10.

UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE PRATT & \VHITNEY COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONN.

ENVELOPE-FOLDING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,207, dated July 28, 1885.

(No model.)

I 0 (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, county of Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Envelope-Folding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying three sheets of drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to envelope-folding mechanism adapted to be used in connection with, and to form apartof, envelopemachines of the usual description, and is an improvement upon a similar invention for which Letters Patent of the United States No. 296,353 were granted to me, April 8, 1884, to which reference may be had.

The invention consists in certain combinations of mechanism, which will first be described in connection with the drawings, and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a part of an envelope-machine which has a folding mech anism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of certain parts of Fig. 2 in projection thereto. Fig. 4. is an enlarged view ofa part of Fig. 2, the folding mechanism. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of, in projection to, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of the folding mechanism in the same position as in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a sectional end elevation of the folding mechanism in the same position as in Fig. 5. Figs. 8, 9,10,11,12, and 13 are views of certain parts of the folding mechanism reduced to a simple form for illustrating their operation.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, A is the frame-work of an envelope-machine of any construction suitable to carry the operative parts.

S is the driving or principal cam-shaft of the machine having the necessary pulley and earns (not shown) for the usual operations of an envelope-machine, and, for the purposes of my present invention, the eccentric E, or its equivalent, cam O, and cam O.

B is the pile of blanks, (see Fig. 1,) supported and fed to the pickers P in any convenient manner, as by table B, and between guides B 0 is an envelope-blank as taken up and held by the pickers, while the carriers K of the usual description are slid under it. P is tle usual guard-plate forseparating the said blank from the pickers, which -is done after the carriers are underneath it by raising the pickers, when the blank, coming in contact with said plate, is pulled off and falls onto the carriers, which convey it to the proper position over the foldingbox, into which box said blank is forced by the usual creasingplunger P". The carriers K are operated by links L from the lever L, which lever is pivoted upon rockshaft S and driven from cam O by means of a connecting-rod, R, which is provided with the usual cam-roller, (not lettered,) a spring, R, being employed to move the said rod in one direction, if desired.

The parts thus far described are or may be such as pertain to the envelopemachines in general use, and may be of any construction adapted to secure their proper operation.

The principal part of my improved folding mechanism consists of a folding-box, D, Figs. 1 and 2, which is made double, and which is carried and adapted to be intermittently revolved upon and by shaft S". This shaft is rotated through one-half of a revolution during the proper part of each-complete revolution of cam-shaft S by means of any one of several suit-able devices which are in use for similar purposes. In Figs. 1 and 2 I. have illustrated onesuch device, which consists of the following parts: Gear G rigidly fixed on shaft S gear G revolving on stud S ratchetwheel G2 rigidly secured to gear G, ecceiitricrod R which is driven by eccentric E, and has a pin, P, which operates the said ratchet, and spring R for keeping said pin in contact with said ratchet-wheel. The gear Gr being twice the size of gear G, and the ratchet-wheel having four teeth, the eccentric E will obviously at each revolution turn the shaft S onehalf of a revolution. For preventing it from going too far, if owing to its own momentum it should incline to do so, and to hold it in an exactly fixed position while at rest, said shaft S may be provided with a stop-wheel, G, which is acted upon by the stop-lev'er Lflwhich lever is pivoted to the frame A at M, and

operated by a suitably-formed cam, C, and

spring R.

The construction of the folding-box which I prefer to use is shown best in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, wherein it is represented made of a central frame, D, which is rigidly fastened to shaft S and two duplicate folding-boxes, D secured to opposite sides of said frame. This frame is recessed at each end to make room for the concave cams N, which are fixed on tubes N, which tubes are themselves fixed into the frame A.

Between the frame D and the folding-boxes are formed bearings for the shafts of the endfolding wings WV, back-flap-folding wing W, and seal-fiap-folding wing W v The several folding wings and cams N are substantially the same as in PatentNo. 296,353, above referred to, except that in this case the box D revolves and the cams are stationary, while in that case the cams revolve and the said box is stationary. cut the wings b and 9, corresponding, respectively, to WV and \V of this application, are each operated by a separate cam. In this case they are operated each from a separate groove in the cam G". The wing V, which requires the most power for its operation has a shaft, A, which terminates in a crank-pin in the inside groove, H, of said cam. The wing WV has a shaft, A which is formed with a crooked portion extending outside of the cam and terminating in a crank-pin in the outside groove, H, of said cam. 'These cam grooves, together with those in cams N, Fig. 4, are suitably formed to give the required movements to the folding-wings, the wings WV having'arms A working in the grooves of cam N, substantially as shown herein and described in the said Letters Patent. Each box D, (see Figs. 4-, 5, 6, and 7,) is provided with a movable folding-bed, D", and these two folding-beds are so connected together by slides I that when one is at the bottom of its box the other will be at the top of the opposite box. Friction-clamps I are provided to prevent the slides I from moving too easily. A leather pad, 1" is or may be provided under each folding-bed to prevent it striking the frame D too heavily when driven down to the bottom of the box.

S is the usual shaft for operating and carrying one end of the endless apron F, which may be of the usual construction and operated in the usual manner. r

The operation of my improved envelopefolding mechanism is as follows: An envelope-blank, 0, Fig. 1,is taken up from the pile of blanks B by the pickers P, transferred, as hereinbefore described, to the carriers K, which carry it to the proper position under the plunger P and above the folding-box D, which is held rigidly in the position shown. This position of the blank is shown also in Figs. 8 and 9. The two folding-boxes are distinguished from each other in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 by the reference-letters D, and D respectively. When the blank reaches its position-O in Figs. 8 and 9, which figures are similar to Figs. 7 and 6, respectively, the

In those Letters Pat.

folding-beds D, being then in their upward position, as shown, the plunger P", descending upon the blank, acts to clamp it onto the folding-bed and to push it and said beds D down to their position, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and is then returned to its first position, leaving said blank partially folded at O. The shaft S and the folding-boxes are now, by any suitable means, substantially as described, revolved (in this instance in the direction of the arrow) to their position in Fig. 12. During this movement, the form of the several camgrooves being made suitable therefor, all the several folding-wings of box D are closed, of which W and WV" are so shown in said figure, folding said blank into a completed envelope, as at O and upon continuing said rotation of said boxes to their position in Fig. 13, being the reverse of'that in Fig. 8, all of the said wings are opened to their positions, as shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11, leaving the beds I) again in their uppermost position and the envelope at O. The next downward move ment of the plunger, acting through the beds D pushes the envelope down to the position 0*, when it falls into a pocket of the endless apron at O', after which it is disposed of in the usual manner.

I do not limit myself to two folding-boxes on shaft S, as any convenient number may be used, preferably two or four, so that their folding-beds may be connected as described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an envelope-folding mechanism, the combination of fixed concave cams N, a revolvingfolding-box,substantiallyas described, and end-folding wings XV, substantially as described.

2. In an envelope-folding mechanism, the combination of the fixed cam G, having canr grooves H and H, a revolving folding-box, substantially as described, and side folding wings W or IV", substantially as described.

3. In an envelope-folding mechanism, in combination, the fixed cams N and cam Chav ing cam grooves H and H, shaft S and frame D, and a series of revolving folding-boxes, as D Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, each having wings WV, \V, and V operated by said cams, substantially as described.

4. In an envelope-folding mechanism, in combination, apairofrevolving folding-boxes, as D, folding-beds D connected together, and plunger 1 substantially as described.

5. In an envelope-machine, in combination, suitable pickers, as P, a carrier, K, aplunger, P", and a series of intermittently-rotat-ing folding boxes, D, with their folding-wings and movable folding-beds, substantially as described.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

\Vitneeses:

(J. O. PALMER, H. WV. FAULKNER, H. F. L. OROUTT. 

